Special European Union Programmes Body

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	To whom the Special European Programmes Body allocated peace funding during 2003; for what purpose; what percentage was allocated in Northern Ireland; and whether the system of grant allocation was approved by the North/South Ministerial Council.

Baroness Amos: The Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) allocated funding under two measures of the PEACE II programme during 2003 to the bodies listed in the following tables.
	Table 1 shows the projects allocated under Measure 4.1 where the SEUPB is responsible for allocating funding to the Border region only. Table 2 shows the allocations under Measure 5.2 where, as all the projects supported involve cross-border partnership, it is not possible meaningfully to calculate a specific Northern Ireland share.
	The PEACE II grant allocation process is described in the PEACE II programme complement document that was approved by NSMC on 20 June 2001.
	
		Table 1
		
			 Organisations Project Title Project Description 
			 Donegal County Council Donegal Tourism Research Programme This tourism research programme is being developed with the purpose of providing an information resource for tourism and related sectors in Donegal. 
			 Donegal County Development Board Forest Link The project will focus on the enhancement and creation of linkages to build networks, learning from models of best practice internationally and the promotion of collaborative partnership approaches to projects. This will assist in the strategic development of forestry in Donegal with regard to (1) the establishment and management of community forests (2) the need to improve market outputs for private timber growers. 
			 North West Food Consortium North West Food Network The central aim of this project is to assist in the development of a progressive and receptive food sector through a cross-sectoral programme designed to establish enduring links and develop networks between food enterprises based in the border counties of the north-west Ireland region (Leitrim, Donegal, Sligo and Cavan) and their European counterparts. 
			 FAS The Messines Peace Networks The main aim of this project is to establish and promote three Messines peace initiative networks, which will be dedicated to facilitating participation in international conflict resolution and peace-building networks to enable international best practice in these fields to be applied to the peace process in Northern Ireland and the Border region. 
		
	
	
		Table 2
		
			 Organisations Project Title Project Description 
			 Co-operation and Working Together CAWT: Promoting Healthy Minds for a Healthy Future This project will develop a cross-border strategy and action plan for tackling the mental health problems of young people including those who have suffered as a result of the conflict. This will include an art therapy programme for young people who have been emotionally traumatised. 
			 Fisheries Conservancy Board NI Reinstatement of the weir at Cullaville, South Armagh The Fane river flows through the border counties of County Armagh and Monaghan. It experiences good runs of salmon and sea trout in the summer and autumn. Passage of these migratory fish to their upstream spawning beds is curtailed by a badly neglected weir at Cullaville. The project seeks to repair the weir and improve facilities for fish passage at the weir and also to enhance salmon habitat in the Fane and adjoining rivers. 
			 Co-operation and Working Together CAWT: Acknowledging the Past and Building on Peace This project will address a number of key health and social services development areas in the region adjacent to the border and will target socially excluded groups many of whom have suffered directly as a result of the troubles. 
			 Cavan County Council Breifne Mountain Region The project will establish this region of north-west Ireland as a quality, educational and activity destination based upon the sustainable development of its total natural and cultural resources. 
			 Dungannon Borough Council South Tyrone-Donegal Exploring Diversity Together The South Tyrone-Donegal exploring diversity together initiative aims to develop a strategic framework for cross-border co-operation between the Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council (NI) and Donegal County Council (ROI). It will operate on a three-phase basis and will be facilitated by two cross-border integration officers based in each local authority. 
			 Blackwater Reconciliation Partnership Blackwater Reconciliation Partnership The Blackwater reconciliation partnership is a vehicle through which three local authorities, namely Armagh City & District Council, Dungannon & South Tyrone Borough Council, and Monaghan County Council, aim to build relationships on a cross-border/cross-community basis and to maximise the opportunities for social interaction and reconciliation. 
			 FAS North-West Cross-border Public Sector Co-operation on Teleservicing and Customer Relationship Manage This project entails FAS and the North West Institute of Further and Higher Education (NWIFHE) working together, and with other agencies, to help redress the legacy of the conflict in the area. The project will bring individuals, businesses and organisations from both communities in the north together with individuals, businesses and organisations in the Republic of Ireland and help them to overcome their differences in order to pursue a common goal: that is, to help position the north-west as a prime location for tele-businesses (inward investment) and to promote the use of electronic customer relationship management (eCRM) to local businesses. Cross-border co-operation and promotion of peace and reconciliation are integral to the project. 
			 Derry City Council Promoting equal opportunities—a bridge to peace and reconciliation Cross-border initiative by Derry City Council and Donegal County Council which aims to take a co-ordinated approach to the common problems of under-representation of women at senior management levels, job segregation and low levels of female entrepreneurship. 
			 County Monaghan VEC (on behalf of North South Education Forum) Diversity of Learning Needs—Education for All Senior educationalists from both sides of the border have agreed five priority areas for collaborative action in education:   —  Social Inclusion   —  ICT   —  Staff Development   —  Youth Work   —  Community Partnerships   This project will provide research and implement innovative activities and projects to tackle the needs and gaps that exist in current education and training provision for marginalised groups within these five priority areas. 
			 Confederation of European Councillors (NI/RoI) NI/RoI Councillor Co-Operation The members of the Confederation of European Councillors are seeking financial assistance to allow them: to establish and operate a local office, initially in Northern Ireland and then in the Border counties, and to allow them to carry out research which will consolidate existing linkages and working arrangements, and provide a forum for cross-border co-operation, development and influence on matters particularly arising from the recent conflict. 
			 County Sligo VEC and Western Education & Library Board, Northern Ireland Building Towards Sustained Youth Sport Building Towards Sustained Youth Sport is a cross-border sports project managed by a consortium of public bodies that includes education, health, local authorities and national sports council interests. The project will address the gap that currently exists between after-school sports provision and junior club development in the community. 
			 Marine & Water Leisure Programme, Donegal County Council Integrated Pilot Project in Beach Management—Rural Activity Beaches The project is a cross-border initiative between Donegal County Council, Limavady Borough Council and the University of Ulster Coastal Research Group, which aims to establish integrated beach management as a financially self-sustainable process catering for multiple user activities while ensuring high standards in safety and conservation of the environment. 
			 ERNACT EEIG Crossborder ePublic Services—Phase 1 The overall aim of this project, is to evaluate the use of e-government models as a cross-border framework for the delivery of more integrated, relevant and targeted public services to cross-border communities within the north-west cross-border region. 
			 Irish Central Border Area Network Rural roads infrastructure and tourism project The project aims to undertake a series of road improvement schemes in 15 rural disadvantaged areas around the border corridor from Castlefin to Clones. In addition to infrastructure improvement, the scheme also includes tourism signage, amenity sites, a road route, stone wall restoration. 
			 Probation Board for Northern Ireland Crime Reduction in Ireland through Positive Impact on Communities The rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders requires that they accept personal responsibility to take steps to stop offending and to make reparation. It also requires a response from the community, which recognises that communities also have a role to play in the reduction of offending. The Probation Board for Northern Ireland and the Probation and Welfare Service in the Republic of Ireland wish to maximise the opportunity provided by peace to begin to understand, share and develop professional approaches to assist in the effective management of a range of offenders. This will include young offenders, drug abusers, alcohol abusers, sex offenders, dangerous offenders and the perpetrators of domestic violence. We intend to develop practice guidelines, best practice programmes and establish projects in border counties evidencing this, albeit that the impact will be on an all-Ireland basis. 
			 DRD Road Service Headquarters A509 Improvements A series of improvements to the A509 road linking Enniskillen to Belturbet. The project builds on the success of the reopening of the road at Aghalane and a series of further improvements that were supported by the original Peace programme. 
			 DRD—Roads Service Headquarters A1/N1 Newry to Dundalk Link Road—Engineering Services Phase II The NI portion of the consultancy commission for the A1/N1 Newry to Dundalk link road to take the scheme through two public inquiries in NI. This project builds on the early work carried out under this commission and which was supported by the original Peace programme. 
			 Craigavon Borough Council Scoping Study for the Railway Corridor area The project is to carry out a scoping study into the pressures placed on towns, villages, infrastructure and communities surrounding the Belfast to Dublin railway corridor, where it runs through the council areas of Craigavon, Newry and Mourne and Louth. 
			 Western Education and Library Board Cross-Border Mobile Library Project The project is a joint initiative between the library service of the Western Education and Library Board (WELB) and the library service of Donegal County Council. The project represents a new cross-border library, education and information service which will cover the counties of Derry, Tyrone and Donegal, focussing on areas of greatest social need. The project will entail purchase of a mobile vehicle while associated bookstock and staffing costs will also be incurred. 
			 North/South Ministerial Council Shared Electronic Workspace for the North/South Ministerial Council Joint Secretariat The project will enable officials from both sides of the Secretariat to work together on documents and data relating to the business of the Joint Secretariat. 
		
	
	The information provided above is based on the most recent download from the central database dated 18 February 2004, and includes only those applications registered at that date. The central database is live and dynamic and depends on various funding bodies to provide and update the information. Only funding details for those groups listed by OFMDFM have been provided.

Immigration Appeals

Earl Russell: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How the Administrative Court of the Queen's Bench Division will accelerate decision-making on Immigration Appeals, particularly bearing in mind the current workload.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: Clause 14 of the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc.) Bill will streamline the asylum and immigration appeals process, creating a single tier of appeal with limited access to the higher courts. We expect that under the new system appeals will take a maximum of 15 weeks to complete. This includes consideration by the Administrative Court.
	To relieve pressure on the Administrative Court in the scheme's early stages, a filter mechanism will operate for a transitional period whereby applications under Section 103A will initially be reviewed by a senior member of the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal. We expect the filter mechanism to add approximately two weeks to processing times.

Olympic Games 2004

Lord Jopling: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What discussions they are having with the Greek Government and the organisers of the 2004 Olympic Games with a view to sending armed police or other security protection for British competitors and officials; and how many such armed personnel they are proposing to send.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: We are in close contact with the Greek Government and the Greek security authorities both bilaterally and multilaterally, through NATO and our membership of the seven-country Olympic Advisory Group (OAG), which has been advising the Greek Government on security arrangements for the Olympics since December 2000. The OAG meets on a monthly basis in Athens and a senior officer of the Metropolitan Police Service acts as the informal chair of the group.
	On the bilateral level we maintain a dialogue with the Greek authorities on all aspects of security affecting British nationals, the members of the British team, and visitors who will be attending the Games. As my right honourable friend the Prime Minister said in the House on 5 May, "we have every faith in the manner in which the Greek authorities are handling matters".
	For reasons I am sure you will appreciate we do not comment in detail on security matters. I am therefore withholding this information under Exemption 1a of Part 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, which covers information whose disclosure would harm national security.

Taiwan: World Health Organisation

Lord Faulkner of Worcester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will support the admission of Taiwan with observer status to the World Health Organisation at the World Health Assembly in Geneva in May.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: There are difficulties over Taiwanese involvement in a UN forum where statehood is a prerequisite for full membership. We would consider with our EU partners any proposals for Taiwanese involvement in the World Health Organisation which took account of these difficulties.

Taiwan: World Health Organisation

Lord Faulkner of Worcester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What discussions they have had with the United States administration regarding the admission of Taiwan to the World Health Organisation with observer status.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials regularly discuss Taiwan policy, including Taiwan's relationship with the World Health Organisation, with their US counterparts.

Tristan da Cunha: Post and Supplies

Lord Beaumont of Whitley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are the arrangements for the inhabitants of Tristan da Cunha to receive post and supplies from the rest of the world.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Post and freight to and from Tristan da Cunha is routed through Cape Town. It is carried on two South African fishing vessels and a South African research ship which are contracted to undertake this activity. In 2004 a total of 14 visits will be made to Tristan da Cunha.

Afghanistan: UN Assistance Mission

The Earl of Sandwich: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What will be the ratio of police officers to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan staff, observers and officials; and whether they consider this local protection to be sufficient.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The UN envisages that a core of 2,695 UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan/Joint Election Management Body staff, together with up to 40,000 Afghan staff during the registration process, and up to 105,000 Afghan staff during the election will be involved in the conduct of the elections. An estimated 12,000 police will provide security for the registration process. 500 police have already received election training and have been deployed to support voter registration teams. 40 trainers from 20 provinces have completed their Train-the-Trainer programme, and the trainers from the remaining provinces will start their training next week. In addition, coalition and NATO planners are working with the UN to consider how they can best support the Afghan Government in providing security for the elections.
	The deaths on 5 May of two British citizens working in support of the electoral process underline the importance of ensuring sufficient security is available, including through the demobilisation, disarmament and reintegration of militias and former combatants (DDR). This will be crucial to provide an environment in which credible elections can be conducted. We are satisfied that the Afghan Government and the UN are taking this issue seriously. Last year the UK gave over £2.5 million to support the development of a new national police force in Afghanistan; we are still finalising our plans for assistance to the police this year. Last year the UK gave over £2.5 million to support DDR in Afghanistan and this year we have pledged a further £2.5 million.

Munchausen's Syndrome by Proxy

The Countess of Mar: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What advice they give to parents who are precluded from working with children because their children have been put on "at risk" registers as a result of evidence of Munchausen's syndrome by proxy, also known as fabricated or induced illness in children, even when their case has not been tested in the courts.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: There are three ways by which an individual can be disqualified from working with children:
	By being made subject to a disqualification order imposed on certain offenders at conviction under Part 2 of the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000.
	By being made subject of a direction under Section 142 of the Education Act 2002 by the Secretary of State on grounds of being unsuitable to work with children.
	By being included on the list of persons considered to be unsuitable to work with children that is maintained under Section 1 of the Protection of Children Act 1999.
	Parents do not fall into any of these three categories solely because their children have been placed on the child protection register. Those whose children have been placed on the child protection register are not automatically precluded from working with children as a consequence of that.
	In addition the Disqualification from Caring for Children Regulations 2002 preclude a parent of a child with respect to whom a care order has been made from being a private foster parent, unless that person has disclosed that fact to the local authority and that authority gives its consent. Such a person cannot be employed in a children's home without the local authority's consent. We are currently reviewing the legislation and regulations in this area.

Olympic Games 2012: London Bid

Lord Jopling: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	In view of reported approaches to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation by the Greek Government, seeking additional security protection for the 2004 Olympic Games, whether they have yet made, or are intending to make, similar approaches in the event of a successful bid for the 2012 Olympic Games.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: Every possible security arrangement will be considered to maximise the safety of the Olympic Games should London stage the event in 2012.

Labour Market Conditions: Ethnic Minorities

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Commission for Racial Equality was consulted before a decision was taken to reduce the amount of information provided by the Office for National Statistics about local labour market conditions for ethnic minorities and non-Britons; and
	Whether the decision by the Office for National Statistics to reduce the amount of information provided about local labour market conditions for ethnic minorities and non-Britons will make it more difficult for local authorities and other employers to ensure that their employment practices are not indirectly discriminatory against members of racial groups.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from the National Statistician, Len Cook, dated 12 May 2004.
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Questions about the availability of labour market data for ethnic minority and non-British groups (HL2617, HL2618).
	The availability of these statistics reduced after the longstanding joint arrangements between the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) ceased in 2003. The very important analyses have always been prepared after the main labour market statistical summaries. Since 2003, these main summaries have demanded more attention and this has led to delays in publishing the ethnic minority studies.
	Annual Local Area Labour Force Survey data for 2002–03 were published on 28 April 2004, accompanied by an ONS News Release. ONS is preparing further analyses for later publication. These will include analyses at both national and local level for ethnic minorities, non-British and overseas born groups. I intend that this will meet the existing needs that we know of in full.
	The ONS has been in contact with the Commission for Racial Equality and will discuss with it the possible content of some of the detailed tables and analyses that will subsequently be published.
	In the meantime, users can continue to request more detailed analyses from the ONS's LFS Data Service. I recognise that this service has been hard pressed to respond quickly, and the delays last month of three weeks reflect this.

Export Subsidies

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their response to the decision of the World Trade Organisation on American export subsidies of cotton; and whether they will use the decision to speed up the ending of European Union agricultural export subsidies.

Lord Whitty: The World Trade Organisation dispute panel established to investigate Brazilian complaints about United States' upland cotton subsidies submitted its interim report to the two parties at the end of April. The report is confidential to the two parties and will not be made more widely available until it is finalised in mid-June. In the mean time the Government are unable to comment on its findings.
	The Doha development agenda commits all countries of the World Trade Organisation to negotiations aimed at substantial reductions in trade-distorting agricultural support, including negotiations with a view to phasing out all forms of export subsidy. Whatever the outcome of this dispute, this Government will continue to work with our international partners for a fair and equitable trading system for all agricultural products worldwide.

Work at Height Regulations: Mountaineering and Similar Activities

Lord Berkeley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	In which member states European Council Directive 2001/45/EC (Temporary Work at Height) is being applied to mountaineering, hill walking, abseiling, rock climbing, caving and sailing in respect of employed persons, self-employed people and private individuals.

Baroness Hollis of Heigham: All member states are transposing Directive 2001/45/EC into national legislation. That process is not yet complete in all cases, nor is implementation. We believe the directive is being applied in all sectors where there are employed people. As is the case with all other health and safety legislation the directive is being applied to self-employed persons in the UK, although this is not generally the case in other member states. It is not being applied to the self-employed in other member states. It does not apply to private individuals.

34 Second Fuel Oil

The Duke of Montrose: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they keep figures on the total amount of 34 second fuel oil that is used as red diesel and the proportions used in agriculture, in the heating of buildings, in marine engines and for other purposes; and, if so, what are those figures.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The Department of Trade and Industry publishes detailed oil information in its annual Digest of UK Energy Statistics, a copy of which can be found in the Libraries of the House. Refiners refer to middle distillate oil as gas oil, sometimes known as "34 second fuel oil". Table 3.4 of the 2003 edition of the digest contains figures for deliveries of gas oil that includes DERV and red diesel.
	Total gas oil deliveries in 2002 were 23.3 million tonnes of which 15.6 million tonnes related to DERV. Of the rest, 0.9 million were used for national navigation (marine engines), 0.6 million tonnes in agriculture, and some 1.4 million tonnes were used in domestic, public administration and commerce most probably for space heating.
	Red diesel is a rebated diesel for non-road use and marked with a red dye. Although not separately identified in DTI figures, HM Customs and Excise record that some 5.6 million tonnes of red diesel were used in 2002.

Business: Regulation and Taxation

Lord Tebbit: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether business regulations has grown since they took office in 1997; and, if so by what factor; and
	What are the extra costs on business since 1997 by way of (a) taxation; and (b) regulation.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The percentage of total tax charge set against total chargeable profits has fallen from 32 per cent in 1996–97 to 28.4 per cent in 2001–02 (the last available figures). The rates of tax have also fallen from 33 per cent (main rate) and 24 per cent (small companies rate) in 1996–97 to 30 per cent (main rate) and 20 per cent (small companies rate) in 2001–02.
	The cost to business by way of regulation since 1997 has not been calculated. However government policy on regulation is clear; we regulate only when it is both necessary and desirable, for example, to ensure fairness at work, better health and safety or a cleaner environment.

Gulf War 1990–91: Vaccines

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What information the Department of Health has on potential adverse consequences for individual service men and women involved in the 1990–91 Gulf conflict as a result of the Ministry of Defence having planned the timing of their anthrax immunisations differently from those in the marketing authorisation and the giving of fewer immunisations than were recommended.

Lord Warner: The Department of Health does not have any information on potential adverse consequences for individual service men and women involved in the 1990–91 Gulf conflict as a result of the Ministry of Defence having planned the timing of their anthrax immunisations differently from those in the marketing authorisation and the giving of fewer immunisations than were recommended.